In the last edition of the Thursday Report (Letters,
Oct. 11), Professor J. Hillel expressed his concerns about the
congestion that occurs at the top of the escalators during peak hours
in the Hall Building.

We agree that there is congestion, and like Professor Hillels suggestion
to encourage the use of the stairs. These stairwells are very comfortable
and easy to use but they are not very visible. We propose to encourage
their use by improving the signage and advertising that this option exists.
We plan to review the design of the stairs as well to see if they could
become more inviting. The obstacles at the top of the escalators that
impede circulation have been for the most part removed, and the remaining
newspaper stands will be relocated.

Finally, there are ongoing building security procedures that actually
stop the escalators as required during peak hours to further help reduce
the congestion on the mezzanine.

To conclude, we realize that this situation is not ideal and will continue
looking for ways to reduce the congestion. We also encourage our students,
faculty, and staff to use the stairs and to be careful not to impede the
people flow when using the escalators.

Peter Bolla, Executive Director, Facilities Management

Former student unions did not
force causes

As former executives, officers, and representatives of the Concordia Student
Union, we are appalled at the current situation within the CSU. Many of
us were involved in rebuilding the Student Union after the last time it
was commandeered by a group of people intent on using it to further their
own narrow political interests.

Many of the undersigned disagreed on various issues, but we had at least
one thing in common  a belief that the Student Union existed to further
the interests of students, as students. While we may have had our differences
on what those interests were, or how best to achieve them, we shared a basic
understanding that an open, democratic forum would ultimately bring forth
the best ideas and, more often than not, lead us along the best path.

Many of us were involved in various, and sometimes conflicting, causes outside
of the Student Union, but none of us ever attempted to force those causes
upon the Student Union or the students of Concordia from a position of self-imagined
moral superiority.